Liner adaptor for chimney

ABSTRACT

A chimney liner adaptor is provided to allow air to flow between the outside environment and an annular space in a lined chimney flue. The adaptor may allow an air cooling system to operate but prevents undesirable elements from entering the annular space. The liner adaptor may be disposed between the chimney cap and the top walls of the chimney system and around the chimney liner. The adaptor may include perforated material, such as an expanded metal mesh, a metal screen, stamped metal screen, rugged netting, or the like. The perforated material permits gas flow, provides structural support for other elements of the adaptor, and filters out undesirable objects from entering the chimney.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/347,517, filed Jan. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,023,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a chimney liner adaptor forprotecting the open end of the annular space of a chimney flue from theingress of undesirable elements.

It is well known that chimney caps are often desired to prevent theingress of undesirable elements into the upper end of a chimney flue.For example, the undesirable elements may include birds, squirrels, andrain. It is also known that chimney caps are desired to prevent theegress of embers from the upper end of the chimney flue. In many chimneysystems, a chimney liner is disposed within a chimney flue. For example,when a masonry chimney flue develops cracks or leaks in its side wallsdue to deterioration over time or other reasons, the installation of achimney liner within the flue is a cost-effective way to repair thedeteriorated flue. The hot gases and combustion products are containedwithin the liner. Such liners are often round conduit or pipe made ofcorrosion resistant material such as stainless steel.

In some chimney systems, the chimney liner is disposed within amulti-wall factory-built type chimney. Generally, a factory-builtchimney is a double-walled round conduit or pipe, with the inner wallspaced from the outer wall. The inner wall is the flue for the hot gasesand combustion products. The annulus formed between the two pipe wallsacts as insulation, so that the outer wall stays cool enough to beinstalled in close proximity, e.g., within one to two (1-2) inches, ofcombustible materials. Also, cooling air may flow through the annulus byforced or natural convection. Some factory-built chimney pipes havethree walls and/or insulation positioned between two of the walls. Forexample, a factory-built chimney for wood-burning fireplaces is marketedby Hearth Technologies Inc., dba Heatilator, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

When a liner is installed within a factory-built chimney, anotherannular “inner chimney space” is formed between the outside of thechimney liner and the inside wall of the factory-built chimney.Therefore, it is desirable to permit the movement of cooling air throughthis inner chimney space to exit to the outside environment. However,when a chimney cap is attached to such a chimney system to prevent theingress of undesirable elements into the chimney liner, it may block theair circulation to the inner chimney space. Chimney caps are known thatpermit the circulation of air to the inner chimney space. However, theseknown devices fail to prevent the ingress of undesirable elements intothe inner chimney space. Therefore, it would be desirable to have achimney liner adaptor that prevents the ingress of undesirable elementsinto the inner chimney space and also permits the use of a chimney linercap to prevent the ingress of undesirable elements into the chimneyliner.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a chimney liner adaptor that prevents the ingressof undesirable elements into the inner chimney space but permits an airexchange between the inner chimney space and the outside environment.The invention also permits the use of a chimney cap to prevent theingress of undesirable elements into the chimney liner. According to oneaspect of the invention, a chimney liner adaptor comprises an aperturedelement for permitting air flow between a chimney and the outsideenvironment; and a device for supporting the apertured element on thechimney.

In another aspect, the chimney liner adaptor comprises a firstperforated disc in a first plane having an aperture; and a second dischaving a second aperture, the second disc being disposed above andsubstantially parallel to the first plane, the second disc beingconnected to the first disc, the diameter of the first aperture beingsubstantially equal to the diameter of the second aperture; and whereinthe second disc is adapted to be disposed on top of the chimney annulus,and the first and second apertures are adapted to receive a chimneyliner.

The present invention can be used to terminate a chimney lining in amulti-wall factory built pipe installation without obstructing thedesigned circulation, while at the same time preventing birds and smallanimals from entering the chimney walls. This may be accomplished by theuse of stainless steel mesh covering the entire opening on the undersideof the adaptor. The operation of the liner adaptor achieves the designedair flow of the multi-wall lining pipe by keeping the air flow separatedfrom the smoke and fumes of the fire.

A further objective is to allow a chimney cap, for example a HomeSaver®Pro™ Guardian™ cap, to be installed on multi-wall factory-built pipelined with stainless steel pipe. The use of a top clamp and storm collarwith the liner adaptor allows installation of the readily availablechimney caps by chimney professionals. An additional benefit of theliner adaptor is the added support to the relining pipe achieved by theuse of the top clamp and the storm collar. The top clamp grips thelining pipe and supports the pipe by distributing the weight to thestorm collar which is then distributed to the adaptor and finally to themulti-wall pipe.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be morereadily understood from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment which is provided in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cut-away elevation view of a chimney liner adaptorin a chimney system, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the chimney system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section view taken along section line III-IIIof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially broken-away perspective view of the chimney lineradaptor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view of the region V of FIG. 3 showingan alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a chimney system according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, where the chimney liner adaptor 130 is disposed overthe outer wall 180 and around the chimney liner 120. A chimney cap 110is disposed above, and coupled to, the liner 120.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the outer wall 180 which is substantially cylindricalin shape. An inner wall 170 is disposed within the outer wall 180 and issubstantially cylindrical in shape. The longitudinal axis of the innerwall 170 is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of theouter wall 180. The annular space 375 between the inner wall 170 and theouter wall 180 is the area generally referred to as the inner chimneyspace. The insert collar 340 of the chimney liner adaptor 130 isdisposed within the inner wall 170. The longitudinal axis of the collar340 is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the innerwall 170. The chimney liner 120 is substantially cylindrical in shapeand is disposed within the inner wall 170 and partially disposed withinthe collar 340. The longitudinal axis of the liner 120 is substantiallyaligned with the longitudinal axis of the inner wall 170.

The inner chimney space can also include the annular space 385 betweenthe inner wall 170 and the liner 120. Part of the chimney liner adaptor130 that extends radially from the collar 340 (FIG. 4) is disposed abovethe outer wall 180. Disposed above the liner adaptor 130 is the stormcollar 160. A top clamp 150 is disposed above the storm collar 160. Achimney cap 110 is disposed above the top clamp 150 and is coupled tothe liner 120. The inner wall 170 may be any suitable size, but in apreferred embodiment, it is substantially eight inches in diameter.

The storm collar 160 is a bezel-shaped metal, preferably formed ofstainless steel, having an inner diameter slightly larger than thediameter of the liner 120 and an outer diameter smaller than thediameter of disc 320 (FIG. 4). The cone shaped storm collar 160 (FIG. 2)has its smaller diameter opening 161 at the top, a conical-shapedsidewall, and the larger diameter opening 162 at the bottom. The collar160 is split with overlapping ends 163 and 164. A clamp 165 may beadjusted to tighten the collar 160 around the liner 120 by pulling thecollar end 163 over the overlapping collar end 164. In the illustratedembodiment, the clamp 165 operates similar to an automotive hose clampwith a mounted screw 166 that engages slots 167 in strap 168 attached tothe collar 160.

The top clamp 150 is formed from two “c” clamps. Each “c” clamp isformed from a rectangular metal strip having three sections, the firstand third sections being substantially co-planar. The second section,disposed between the first and third sections, is substantially arcshaped, where the diameter of the arc is substantially equal to thediameter of the liner 120. The top clamp 150 is implemented by the two“c” clamps joined such that the respective arcs form a cylinder,respective first sections abut, and the respective third sections abut.These respective sections are mechanically coupled after installation byscrews, nuts and bolts, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, eachfirst and third sections of both “c” clamps have a respective aperture151, 153 which are substantially similar in diameter and adapted toreceive a screw. The apertures 151, 153 are disposed such that when thefirst section of one “c” clamp is in contact with the third section ofthe other “c” clamp the respective centers of apertures 151, 153 aresubstantially aligned. In another aspect, a nut 154 is connected to thethird section of each “c” clamp. The aperture of nut 154 has a diameterthat is substantially similar to the diameter of the apertures 151, 153.The aperture of each nut 154 is substantially coaxial to the apertures151, 153.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the liner adaptor 130 is comprised of a meshdisc 310, a metal disc 320, a cylindrical band 330, the collar 340, andmesh supports 350. There are four mesh supports 350 in the illustratedembodiment. One of the mesh supports 350 is hidden from view in FIG. 4by the collar 340. The present invention should not be limited, however,to the details of the preferred embodiments shown and described herein.

The mesh disc 310 is preferably formed from a substantially planar,perforated material, preferably stainless steel. The perforated materialmay be, for example, an expanded metal mesh, a metal screen, stampedmetal screen, rugged netting, or the like. The mesh disc 310 has adiameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of the chimney pipe 180(FIG. 1) to permit effective air exchange between the inner chimneyspace and the outside environment. The disc 310 has an aperture 352having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the inner wall170 and a diameter slightly larger than the liner 120. The mesh disc 310is formed from material with apertures, or perforations, 354sufficiently large to permit air flow into and/or out of the annularspace, but sufficiently small enough to prevent ingress of undesirableelements, e.g., small animals.

The disc 320 has a diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of thechimney pipe 180. The disc 320 has an aperture 356 having a diameterthat is smaller than the diameter of the inner wall 170 and a diameterlarger than the liner 120. The diameter of the aperture 352 of the meshdisc 310 corresponds to, and is substantially equal to, the diameter ofthe aperture 356 of the disc 320. The outer diameter of the mesh disc310 corresponds to, and is slightly smaller than, the outer diameter ofthe disc 320. In a preferred embodiment, the respective diameter of theapertures 352, 356 of discs 310, 320 is substantially equal to seven andeleven sixteenths (7 11/16) inches. In a preferred embodiment, the outerdiameter of disc 310 is substantially equal to sixteen (16) inches andthe outer diameter of discs 320 is substantially equal to sixteen andthree quarters (16¾) inches. The diameters of discs 310, 320 is suchthat liner adapter 130 is adapted to be used with different chimneysystems having different sized outer walls 180.

The band 330 is formed from a substantially rectangular strip of metal,preferably stainless steel, to form a cylinder. The length of band 330corresponds to the (exterior) radius of the disc 310. In a preferredembodiment the height of the band 330 is substantially equal to one andone half (1½) inches. The band 330 may also have a flange 332 extendingfrom one end of the cylinder being formed away from the exterior. Theflange 332 is approximately one quarter (¼) inch in the radialdirection.

The collar 340 is substantially cylindrically shaped having on one end asmall flange projecting away from, and substantially perpendicular to,the exterior wall of the collar 340. In a preferred embodiment, thecollar 340 is formed of stainless steel. The diameter of the collar 340is substantially equal to the respective diameters of the apertures 352,356 of the discs 310, 320. In a preferred embodiment, the length of thecollar 340 is substantially equal to five and one half (5½) inches andthe flange is approximately one quarter (¼) inch in length. As notedabove, however, the present invention should not be limited to thedetails of the illustrated embodiments.

The mesh support 350, or standoff, may be formed from rectangularlyshaped metal pieces. In the illustrated embodiment, each rectangularlyshaped metal piece is bent a first time forming a first section that issubstantially perpendicular to a second section. The metal piece is benta second time along an imaginary line that is parallel to an imaginaryline formed by the first bend. The third section is substantiallyperpendicular to the second section and bent away from the side ofsection two where section one is disposed. The plane formed by sectionone is substantially parallel to the plane formed by section three.

The disc 320, which may be stamped from sheet metal, is disposed in aplane parallel to and above the plane formed by disc 310. The centerpoint of the aperture of disc 320 is substantially aligned with thecenter point of the aperture of disc 310. Four mesh supports 350 coupledisc 310 to disc 320. Preferably, each mesh support 350 is substantiallyat a radial position on discs 310, 320 ninety (90) degrees from theneighboring mesh support 350. Each respective first section of a meshsupport 350 is substantially parallel to a plane formed by disc 310 andsubstantially flush and coupled to the disc 310. Each respective thirdsection of a mesh support 350 is substantially parallel to a planeformed by disc 320 and substantially flush and coupled to disc 320. Inthe illustrated embodiment, mesh supports 350 are coupled to discs 310,320 by resistance welding.

Collar 340 is disposed through the apertures of discs 310, 320 such thatthe bottom of the flange on collar 340 is coupled with the top surfaceof disc 320. The length of the collar 340 extends through the apertureon discs 310, 320 and the collar extends below disc 310. In a preferredembodiment, the flange of the collar 340 is resistance welded to thesurface of disc 320.

The band 330 is bent lengthwise and shaped into a cylinder where onelengthwise end of the band 330 abuts and is coupled to the otherlengthwise end of the band 330. The bottom circumference of the cylinderformed by the band 330 is disposed and may be coupled to thecircumference of the disc 310 by resistance welding. The topcircumference of the cylinder formed by the band 330 and the flange isdisposed and coupled to the bottom side of the disc 320, preferably byresistance welding.

The liner adaptor 130 is disposed such that the liner 120 is disposedwithin and extends through the collar 340. The collar 340 of the lineradaptor 130 is disposed within the inner wall 170. The bottom side ofthe liner 130, e.g., the mesh disc 310, is disposed on the top of eitherthe inner or outer walls 170, 180, depending on which is higher. In manychimney systems, the inner and outer walls 170, 180 are substantiallythe same height. The diameter of the mesh disc 310 should besubstantially larger than the diameter of the outer wall 180. There isan annular region 365 in the liner adaptor 130 bounded by the liner 120and the band 330 and the mesh disc 310 and the disc 320. Air ispermitted to flow freely from/to the inner chimney space through theannular space 365.

The storm collar 160 is disposed above and abuts the top surface of theliner adaptor 130, and has an outward slope in a downward direction. Thetop clamp 150 is disposed above the storm collar 160. A benefit of theillustrated arrangement is that added support is provided for the upperportion of the liner 120. The upper portion of the liner 120 issupported in part by the top clamp 150 and the storm collar 160. The topclamp 150 grips the liner 120 and supports the liner 120 by distributingthe weight to the storm collar 160 which is then distributed to theliner adaptor 130 and finally to the multi-wall pipe 180. The chimneycap 110 is disposed above the top clamp 150 and coupled to the liner120.

As seen in FIG. 3, the chimney system permits the egress of fumescarried in the annular space 395 within the liner 120 to the chimney cap110 into the outside environment. The flow of air, e.g., fumes,egressing annular space 395 is indicated by arrow 393. The illustratedarrangement also permits the circulation of air in the inner chimneyspace, e.g., annular spaces 375, 385, with the outside environment. Airfrom annular space 375 is carried between the outer wall 180 and innerwall 170 and through the mesh disc 310 on the interior side of the outerwall 180 and subsequently through the mesh disc 310 on the exterior sideof the outer wall 180 into the environment. The flow of air egressingannular space 375 is indicated by arrow 391. It may be desirable thatair be permitted to flow in the reverse direction as well.

Air from annular space 385 can be carried between the inner wall 170 andthe liner 120 and through the mesh disc 310 on the interior side of theinner wall 170 and subsequently through the mesh disc 310 on theexterior side of the outer wall 180 into the environment. The flow ofair egressing annular space 385 is indicated by arrow 392. It may alsobe desirable that air be permitted to flow though space 385 in thereverse direction. The air circulation may be dependent upon theexistence and size of the annular area between the collar 340 and theinner wall 170. However, the presence and use of the mesh disc 310 aspart of the liner adaptor 130 prevents undesirable elements, e.g.,rodents, from outside the chimney system from entering into the chimneysystem.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view showing another embodiment of theregion V of FIG. 3. The disc 520 is similar to disc 320 of FIG. 3 butdifferent in that the disc 520 has a flange 521 on the interior aperture525 projecting up away from the top surface 522 of the disc 520. In apreferred embodiment, the flange is approximately one half (½) inch inlength. Additionally, in this embodiment the collar 340 is disposedthrough the aperture of the disc 310 such that the top 342 of the flange341 on the collar 340 is coupled with the bottom surface 523 of disc520. In a preferred embodiment, the flange 341 of the collar 340 isresistance welded to the bottom surface 523 of the disc 520 and theinside diameter of the flange 521 is approximately one half (½) inchless than the inside diameter of the collar 340 resulting in an overhang527 of approximately one quarter (¼) inch. An advantage of the inclusionof the flange 521 on disc 520 is that it can reduce the amount of water,e.g., rain water or snow melt, that can flow into the interior spacesubstantially defined by the interior diameter of disc 520.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference tospecific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that manymodifications and substitutions can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. The invention is not to be consideredas limited by the foregoing description but is only limited by the scopeof the claims.

1. A chimney liner adaptor, comprising: an apertured element forpermitting air flow between a chimney and the outside environment, saidaperture of said apertured element adapted to receive a chimney linerand having a diameter larger than a diameter of said liner and smallerthan a diameter of an inner wall of said chimney, the apertured elementhaving a top surface with an upward extending flange for reducing theingress of water into the aperture of said apertured element; and astandoff for supporting said chimney liner adaptor on said chimney, saidstandoff mechanically coupled to said apertured element.
 2. The lineradaptor of claim 1, wherein said apertured element has a meshconfiguration.
 3. The liner adaptor of claim 1, wherein said aperturedelement is formed of expanded metal.
 4. The liner adaptor of claim 1,wherein said chimney has multiple spaced-apart walls.
 5. A chimney lineradaptor that permits air flow between a chimney annulus and the outsideenvironment, said adaptor comprising: a first perforated disc in a firstplane having an aperture, said aperture adapted to receive a chimneyliner and having a diameter larger than a diameter of said liner andsmaller than a diameter of an inner wall of said chimney; and a seconddisc having a second aperture and a flange, said second disc beingdisposed above and substantially parallel to said first plane, saidsecond disc being connected to said first disc, the diameter of saidfirst aperture being substantially equal to the diameter of said secondaperture, said flange extending from the interior diameter of saidsecond disc and being substantially perpendicular to said first plane,said flange projecting away the top surface from said second disc; andwherein said second disc is adapted to be disposed above the chimneyannulus, and said first and second apertures are adapted to receive saidchimney liner.
 6. The liner adaptor of claim 5, further comprising acollar disposed through said first aperture, said collar being adaptedto receive said liner.
 7. The liner adaptor of claim 6, furthercomprising a standoff for supporting one of said discs relative to theother, said standoff being located between said first and second discs.8. The liner adaptor of claim 7, further comprising a band for definingthe outer perimeter of said adaptor, said band being located around theperimeter of said first disc.
 9. The liner adaptor of claim 8, whereinsaid perforated disc is formed of expanded stainless steel.
 10. Theliner adaptor of claim 9, wherein said chimney is a factory builtchimney.
 11. The liner adaptor of claim 10, wherein said chimney has aninner and an outer wall.
 12. A chimney system, comprising: a liner forlining a flue; and a liner adaptor comprising: a perforated disc forallowing gas to flow into and/or out of said flue, said perforated discbeing located in a first plane, said perforated disc having a firstaperture, said aperture having a diameter larger than a diameter of saidliner and smaller than a diameter of an inner wall of a chimney; and anon-perforated disc having a second aperture and a flange, saidnon-perforated disc being disposed above and substantially parallel tosaid first plane, said non-perforated disc being connected to saidperforated disc, the diameter of said first aperture being substantiallyequal to the diameter of said second aperture, said flange extendingfrom the interior diameter of said second disc and being substantiallyperpendicular to said first plane, said flange projecting away from thetop surface of said second disc; and wherein said first and secondapertures are adapted to receive said chimney liner.
 13. The chimneysystem of claim 12, further comprising a collar having a second flangedisposed through said first aperture, said flange being mechanicallycoupled to the underside of said second disc, said collar being adaptedto receive said liner.
 14. The chimney system of claim 13, furthercomprising a standoff for supporting one of said discs relative to theother, said standoff being located between said discs.
 15. The chimneysystem of claim 14, further comprising a band for defining the outerperimeter of said adaptor, said band being located around the perimeterof said perforated disc.
 16. The chimney system of claim 15, furthercomprising a chimney cap being disposed above said liner adaptor andcoupled to said liner.
 17. The liner adaptor of claim 1 wherein saidapertured element is substantially perforated throughout.
 18. The lineradaptor of claim 6 wherein said collar has a diameter larger than adiameter of said liner and smaller than a diameter of an inner wall ofsaid chimney.
 19. The liner adaptor of claim 5 wherein said first discis substantially perforated throughout.
 20. The chimney system of claim12 wherein said perforated disc is substantially perforated throughout.21. The chimney system of claim 12 further comprising a storm collar forsupporting the liner, said storm collar having a inner diameter largerthan said diameter of said liner and adapted to be placed over saidnon-perforated disc.
 22. The chimney system of claim 21 wherein saidstorm collar is adjustable.